This field is devoted to the diagnosis and treatments of tumors of urinary systems. Most importantly taking care of patients with prostate cancer, kidney, testicular and bladder cancer. Physicians that are trained in this field are called uro-oncologists. Dr. Samadi is board certified in uro-oncology from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He is fellowship trained in and laparoscopyrobotic prostatectomy surgery under the supervision of Claude Abbou, an internationally recognized expert in both fields.
It is essential to have the training in all three fields of surgery: open, laparoscopy, and robotic prostatectomy surgery. Different cases might require different skills. In order to be a leader in robotic prostatectomy surgery, one has to be have the experience of open surgery and laparoscopy beforehand. Before starting the da Vinci Robotic Prostatectomy program here in New York, I had performed many open radical prostatectomy procedures. I also learned to perform Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy before da Vinci robotic cases.
Da Vinci Robotic Surgery is a technology that bring these two fields together. Da Vinci Robotic Prostatectomy compensates for the some of the deficiencies of both open and laparoscopy fields. For example, the vision in laparoscopy is 2-D, whereas Da Vinci Robotic Prostatectomy surgery is 3-D. 3-D imagery is helpful in critical steps of prostatectomy, such as sparing the nerves for sexual function or the anastomosis (sewing the bladder back to the urethra). In open surgery, the same specimen is removed, however, the blood loss is much less with Da Vinci Robotic Prostatectomy. Since I use my open surgical training and laparoscopic skill with the use of the da Vinci Robotic Prostatectomy system, I recommend this to most of my patient. There is no compromise in their care by using this system. Robotic surgery could be applied for removal of kidney cancer known as Robotic Laparoscopic Nephrectomy and bladder cancer called a Robotic radical cystectomy. The four disease process that it is involved on urologic oncology are as follows:
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men after skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men after lung cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year. There has been a down-staging phenomenon in the past few years as the result of an early detection and diagnosis. While in it’s early stages, the chance for cure is very high. It is diagnosed by a blood test called PSA and digital rectal exam. Surgery is the only treatment that removes the prostate gland entirely. In all other options such as radiation, brachytherapy and cryosurgery, the prostate gland stays inside the patient. Decision on which option is best for patients is based on case by case.
Approximately 54,000 new cases of bladder cancer are diagnosed and more than 12,500 deaths are attributed to bladder cancer. Most patients usually present with hematuria (blood in urine) and the best way to diagnose it is through a cystoscpy. By looking inside the bladder and getting a biopsy of a lesion, pathologist can determine what type of bladder cancer and how aggressive the tumor is. For more aggressive diseases of bladder cancer that invades the muscular tissue of the bladder, surgical removal of the bladder is the standard of care. Open radical cystectomy is the standard of care with a urinary diversion either ideal conduit or a neobladder. More recently the same minimal invasive principles have been applied to this operation. More centers across US are performing radical cystectomy or removal of the bladder with the use of the daVinci Robotic Prostatectomy system or just laparoscopically.
Renal Cell Carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed kidney cancer. Most of these tumors are found incidentally as the result of unrelated imaging studies. Radical nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy are the gold standard treatment options for this disease process. While open surgical removal of kidney or part of it is indicated in selected patients, majority of these tumors could be removed laparoscopically or through minimal invasive approach. The advantages are minimum blood loss, faster recovery time with similar oncological outcome.
Also known as nephron sparing surgery is usually chosen when the tumor size is less than 4cm, if contralateral kidney is not functioning well. Pre-planning for the surgery is the key to success in this type of surgery whether it is performed through an open surgery or laparoscopically. Occasionally if the mass is a small size, da Vinci Robotic Prostatectomy could be used in order to remove the tumor.